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Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, such as clans, gentes, or the Indian caste system.

Etymology of the English word caste

The word caste is derived from the Romance word casta (seen in Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian), which (in addition to representing the same concept as English caste) can mean "lineage" or "race". It comes from Romance casto, which can mean "pure" or "chaste" . Casto is derived from Latin castus, which also meant "pure" or "chaste".

Definitions

Caste as a religious concept is recognized by Oxford Dictionary as "each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status." and as " any exclusive social class." Anthropologists use the term more generally, to refer to a social group that is endogamous and occupationally specialized; such groups are common in highly stratified societies with a very low degree of social mobility. In its broadest sense, examples of caste-based societies include colonial Latin America under Spanish and Portuguese rule (see Casta), apart from India prior to 1947.

Caste system among Hindus

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The Indian caste system, prevalent also among local Muslims, and Christians exhibits some differences from those of other countries. Elsewhere, the separation between one group and the other is usually along racial lines. Within India, that is not so. Nor is there any discernable dichotomy (white/black or high/low) because the caste system forms a continuum that defies such ready definition. Lower-caste people live in conditions of great poverty and social disadvantage, though efforts by the Indian government to emancipate the lower castes with affirmative action have achieved some success in recent years.

The concept of 'upper' and 'lower' caste is therefore a matter of social standing and ritual pollution rather than anything based on wealth or influence . Even in this age, some castes do not allow other caste members to touch them, and would have washed themselves or their possessions if they had been touched by someone from a "lower" caste . In some parts of India, there was the practice of defining the physical distance one should keep from persons of another caste. As a result of this, children who attended a school where children of lower castes were present had to bathe in running water before returning home. In some parts of the world, as well as in India, such caste discrimination still exists, though it is punishable by law and unconstitutional in India.The Indian constitution was drafted by Ambedkar, himself of low-caste origins, who is regarded as an emancipator of the Dalits.

Loss of caste could occur if individuals strayed from the norms of behavior expected of them; for instance, if one married a person belonging to another caste. Despite the marketing efforts of Christian proselytizers, the fact is that converts rarely achieve emancipation from the caste system and gain an equal social standing with people of privilege. Even among converts, matrimony between members of different castes is rare, although it is not unknown.

A detailed analysis of the caste system, Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development in India was presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in his doctoral paper at the Columbia University.

Mythical Origin of Castes

In the Puranas, it is said that the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, created some humans from his mouth — they became reciters of the Veda and became the Brahmins. Then he created other humans from his arms, they became the Kshatriyas, bearers of arms, the warrior and ruling class. Brahma then created some from his abdomen, who became the Vaishyas or merchants. Finally, Brahma created humans from his feet. They served the other castes even as the feet serve the man; they came to become the Sudras (manual labourers and artisans). Thus, the whole universe is held to be one organic entity, the body of the almighty.

Many scholars have the opinion that the caste system was not rigid in early vedic times. They aver that change of one's caste could be effected with relative ease, by changing ones vocation and gaining an education. Others however feel that caste began as a form of racism and interpret the meaning of the word 'sudra' to mean 'dark' or 'black'.

Jāti

It has been suggested that this article be merged with Jāti. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2006.

Major castes were subdivided into hundreds of sub-castes or jātis. Castes were based on occupation . Endogamous marriage (including polyandry) and other association within caste was strongly enforced.

• Sub-castes within a group of jat ("birth" as opposed to varna) were called jāti
• Jāti members were allowed to marry only with their jāti .
• People were born into their jāti; this status couldn't be changed, unless through marriage or under rare circumstances.
• Each jāti was part of a locally based system of interdependence with other groups, involving occupational specialization, and was linked in complex ways with networks that stretched across regions.

For example, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, states of South India, castes based on occupation would include: asari (carpenters), thattar (goldsmiths), muusaari (coppersmiths), karuvar (ironsmiths), ambattar (clothes-washers), parayar (cobblers) and so on.

Modern developments

It has been suggested that this article be merged with Indian caste system. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2006.

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With rapid urbanization and education of India's largely rural, agrarian population, the significance of caste is slowly being diminished. The caste system and its attendant practices have been outlawed and declared punishable offenses, but these laws are difficult to implement. There are occasional violations of human rights of Dalits (outcastes - also called untouchables) by orthodox elements among the higher castes, including forcing Dalits into their traditional professions despite merits to the contrary. Dalits have often been victimized by orthodox Brahmins and middle castes in rural areas and live in poverty. The government of India provides reservations for government jobs and of university seats in programs of higher education (undergraduate and above) for people hailing from Scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes and Other Backward Castes; see Reservation in India . It has been argued by Dalits that upper caste Hindus are trying to scuttle these efforts. Upper caste Hindus and several secular elements counter-argue that unmeritorious Dalits are exploiting affirmative action to their advantage and meritorious candidates are being sidelined. The site Dalitstan (presently taken down), once banned by the Indian government, is an example of anti-Brahmin and anti-Hindu rhetoric by Dalit extremists, allegedly supported by Christian missions .

Caste system among Indian Muslims

Main article: Caste System among Indian Muslims

There is also a caste system among Indian Muslims . They are broadly divided into two castes, Ashraf and Ajlaf, or oonchi zaat (high caste) and niichi zaat (low caste). The Muslim Caste system in India was analyzed by Ambedkar, who had a very dim view of the rampant discrimination of the Ajlaf castes by the Ashraf castes.In addition to the Ashraf and Ajlaf castes, there exist the Arzal under-caste or the Dalit Muslims who are regarded by the Ashraf and the Ajlaf as ritually impure and are relegated to professions regarded as "menial" such as scavenging and the carrying of night soil.

In addition, Muslims in Bengal organize their society according to social strata called "Quoms", where division of labor is granted by birth, rather than by economic status. Professions perceived as "lowly" are provided to people of certain ostracized Quoms and higher Quoms get professions perceived as superior. The Quoms are rigidly segregated with little or no intermarriage or cohabitation.

Caste System in Pakistan

The social stratification among Muslims in the "Swat" area of North Pakistan has been meaningfully compared to the Caste system in India. The society is rigidly divided into subgroups where each Quom is assigned a profession. Different Quoms are not permitted to intermarry or live in the same community. These Muslims practice a ritual-based system of social stratification. The Quoms who deal with human emissions are ranked the lowest. Leach, Edmund Ronald (November 24, 1971). Aspects of Caste in South India, Ceylon and North-West Pakistan (Pg 113). Cambridge University Press.

The Caste system in Pakistan creates sectarian divides and strong issues along similar lines to those divides seen in India. Lower castes are often severely persecuted by the upper castes. Lower castes are denied privileges in many communities and violence is committed against them. A particularly infamous example of such incidents is that of Mukhtaran Mai in Pakistan, a low caste woman who was gang raped by upper caste men. In addition, educated Pakistani women from the lower castes are often persecuted by the higher castes for attempting to break the shackles of the restrictive system (that traditionally denied education to the lower castes, particularly the women). A recent example of this is the case of Ghazala Shaheen, a low caste Muslim woman in Pakistan who, in addition to getting a higher education, had an uncle who eloped with a woman of a high caste family. She was accosted and gang-raped by the upper-caste family. The chances of any legal action are low due to the Pakistani Government's inability to repeal the Huddood ordinance .

Nepalese caste system

The Nepalese caste system resembles that of the Indian Jāti system with numerous Jāti divisions with a Varna system superimposed.

Sri Lankan caste system

The Sri Lankan system resembles the South Indian Jāti system with numerous Jāti divisions without a Varna system superimposition. Furthermore, the Sri Lankan Tamils see themselves as superior to Tamils of Indian background.

Balinese caste system

The Balinese caste system resembles the Indian system with a four-fold division of society. Shudras make up 97% of the society.

Yemen caste system

In Yemen there exists a caste like system that keeps Al-Akhdam social group as the perennial manual workers for the society through practices that mirror untouchability. The Akhdam (literally "servants" with Khadem as plural) is the lowest rung in the Yemeni caste system and by far the poorest. Marginalized and shunned by mainstream society, its members live in small shanty towns, mostly in big cities, including the capital, Sana’a. They live in segregated communities with poor housing conditions and are regarded as "racially inferior" because some believe them to be of Ethiopian ancestry. Many NGO's and charitable organizations from other countries such as CARE International are working towards their emancipation. The Yemenese government denies that there is any discrimination against the Khadem. .

Castes in Africa

Castes in Latin America

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The word "Caste" is Portuguese in origin, from the word Casta. Many Latin American countries have caste systems based on classification by race and inter-ethnic marriages. The caste system was imposed during colonial rule by the Spanish. While many Latin American countries have rendered the system officially illegal through legislation, societal prejudices against lower castes still remain.

See also

• Social stratification
• Feudal society
• Class society
• Reservations in India
• Forward Castes

Notes

1. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 2000, entry caste.
2. "Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development in India". Retrieved 2006-07-31.
3. Ambedkar, Bhimrao. Pakistan or the Partition of India. Thackers Publishers.online
4. Race, Caste, and Other Invidious Distinctions in Social Stratification - UC DavisDept. of Sociology
5. Leach, Edmund Ronald (November 24, 1971). Aspects of Caste in South India, Ceylon and North-West Pakistan (Pg 113). Cambridge University Press.
6. Pakistani graduate raped to punish her low-caste family The Sunday Times - September 24, 2006
7. Akhdam: Ongoing suffering for lost identity Yemen Mirror
8. Yemen Times

References

• Spectres of Agrarian Territory by David Ludden December 11, 2001
• Early Evidence for Caste in South India, p. 467-492 in Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G. Mandelbaum, Edited by Paul Hockings and Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam, 1987.

External links

Sites

• http://www.idsn.org International Dalit Solidarity Network
• http://www.dalits.org National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
• http://www.dalits.nl Dalit Network Netherlands
• Anti-Caste Information Page On caste, communalism, and class struggle.
• Caste & the Tamil Nation - Brahmins, Non Brahmins & Dalits

Articles

• India Together on Caste
• Rankism: A Social Disorder
• Varna Ashram and Hindu Scriptures (pdf)
• Muslims and Caste
• On the Social Function of Caste: A Reply to Jared Diamond
• On discrimination against untouchable survivors of the South Asian tsunami
• Personal family history of an untouchable writer from Andhra
• New Internationalist, July 2005, "combating Caste"
• The Caste System in India
• Jati system in India
• Articles on Caste by Koenraad Elst: Caste in India, Buddhism and Caste, Indian tribals and Caste, Physical anthropology and Caste, Etymology of Varna
• Is Caste System Intrinsic to Hinduism?
• Caste & the Tamil Nation - Brahmins, Non Brahmins & Dalits
• Hindu Caste System & Hinduism: Vedic vocations (Hindu castes) were not related to heredity (birth)
• ISKCON view of caste and behavior
• These documented Results of 4-Varn system can make you Proud of your Hindu heritage
• News on caste, communalism, and class struggle in South Asia from the Anti-Caste Information Page

• Articles to be merged from September 2006
• Caste
• Social groups of India
• Sociology
• Social divisions